Thor Motocross - Chad Reed interview

Chad Reed Discusses His Triumphant Return to the Outdoor Nationals
As the 2009 Supercross season came to a close, motocross fans throughout
the world were preparing themselves for a summer season without the two
men that provided what many ...

Chad Reed Discusses His Triumphant Return to the Outdoor Nationals

As the 2009 Supercross season came to a close, motocross fans throughout
the world were preparing themselves for a summer season without the two
men that provided what many consider to be the most entertaining
Supercross season in history as each had become a part of the
Supercross-only trend that has occurred in recent years. However, Chad
Reed felt as though something was missing from his career. The two-time
Supercross champion had never achieved much success outdoors on the
motocross circuit but all that changed this season. After a two-year
hiatus, a rejuvenated Reed was able to make the deals and sacrifices
necessary to return to the nationals in a quest for that elusive Lucas
Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship title. He approached the 2009
motocross season with a stronger passion, hunger and unrelenting
determination to show he has what it takes to win in all facets of the
sport.

While the season got off to a slow start, Chad eventually got into his
groove and once he achieved his first career win in the 450 Class, he
never looked back, posting a total of five victories and capturing the
championship he wanted last weekend at Budds Creek with two rounds to
spare. Thor MX takes a look back at the success Chad has achieved this
season as Reed himself talks about what this title means to him and his
career.

"This was something I've never been able to do on a professional
level. I've never won an outdoor title. Never here (in the U.S.),
never anywhere. I've always kind of come up short. I felt like I put
out a lot of effort, but I never really concentrated and was never
motivated like I was this year. I wanted to get after it."

"It was a tough year. It started out behind the eight ball a little
bit and I was able to work week in and week out to get stronger and
stronger. Then I ended up winning races, going back-to-back and won the
title."

"I was a late entry (to the nationals). We were working on it for a
few months there and I was really happy (it worked out). It's always
good to gamble on yourself and have the people to support your
gamble."

"To be able to pull it off is obviously really rewarding. A lot of
people have been around my racing ever since I got to the U.S., like Thor
and Parts, and Suzuki as well this past year. They're all just really
fun to work with and it's awesome to reward them with a championship.
They made it comfortable and I went to work for everyone to try and be in
this exact position that we're in, which is to win an outdoor
title."

"It's definitely real rewarding. Just because of everything
I've gone through. It was hard there for a little bit. I was dealing
with some stomach issues, lost a lot of weight and wasn't feeling
good or at my best. For about three or four races I was kind of going
along as a passenger. I felt like I couldn't really give it my all
and I just kind of had to be there every week and put myself in the best
position that I could at the time. Lucky enough, that was good enough to
get on the podium a few times and stay inside the top 10 and top 5 and
the points all added up. I've overcome a lot and I'm really just
happy to win it."

"It's hard to say (I've) completed (my career) or that
I've achieved everything I wanted to achieve. Part of what makes me
tick from day-to-day and makes me want to be the best year to year is
that I'm never satisfied. I try to be better and I try to put myself
in the best position to win more races and more championships. I think as
an athlete, I'm pretty selfish in that respect. I want more, more,
more."

"I'm definitely really happy. I definitely feel like I've
completed a lot of tasks that I set forth. I feel like I've got more
in me but if I had to step away today I'd feel like I stepped away at
my best."

"In the past I've enjoyed (riding outdoors) but not at this
level. It just seems like this year I was in a better place. I was happy,
I was having fun on the bike and the nastier and rougher and more
hardcore it got the more fun it was for me. I'm really happy to be in
that place and be in that mindset. The goal was to win a championship and
the goal was also to put myself in a position to better myself as a rider
and I think I've achieved that. Hopefully it will make a difference
next year in Supercross as well."

"The atmospheres are definitely different from outdoors to
(Supercross). (In Supercross), everyone is just right there and
you're so surrounded by it. Outdoors has kind of that hardcore
feeling. You're going super fast, you're dealing with a rough,
nasty track and the majority of the people that are there watching you
all respect what you're doing on the track because 99 percent of them
are riders themselves. It's that kind of difference, the sheer
hardcore and grassroots of the sport that make (this title) so cool."

Congratulations Chad, from everyone at the Thor and Parts Unlimited
family.